Invited to speak at the African Investment Forum in Abidjan, Masai Ujiri sent a strong message for sport to be given more consideration in Africa.

“This continent has the best talent in the world when it comes to sport […] Governments need to put experts in sports ministries. The private sector must get involved.”

The Toronto Raptors president called on African governments but also the private sector to invest more consistently and rigorously in sport, citing the example of Rwanda. The Nigerian took the opportunity to present his project “Ujiri Court”, a stone’s throw from the Kigali Arena in Rwanda, which represents a sports complex but also a cultural one with cinemas, shops, restaurants…

The 3rd edition of the African Investment Forum was held in early November in Abidjan. The conference brought together more than 1,000 participants to discuss the negotiation and structuring of projects likely to contribute to the transformation of the continent. Among the guests were heads of state (the vice-president of Côte d’Ivoire Tiemoko Meyliet Koné, the president of Ghana Nana Akufo Addo, the president of the People’s Republic of Ethiopia Sahle Work Zewlé, the president of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa) but also actors of the private sector such as the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Akinwumi Adesina